For all the issues upstairs and behind the scenes, these players were not good enough when it mattered.

He would not say it, of course not - but don’t, for one second, believe Rafa Benitez does not know it.

When Bobby Madley mercifully closed this catalogue of errors, Rafa did what Rafa generally does - tucked away his spectacles like an insurance clerk who has been waiting for the office clock to strike five and took the opening, purposeful steps towards home and his tea.

This time, it felt a little different. There was not even a glance towards the thick, silent, knot of Newcastle supporters - only rueful head-shake after rueful head-shake.

Rafa’s rapport with the Newcastle family was fun while it lasted.

Benitez gestures to his players (Image: Reuters)

There could, of course, be an unexpected twist. Survival is not out of the question. First up, Rafa needs a favour from Everton (that small club, as he referred to them back in 2007) but he wore the post-match look of someone who knows the game - the brief game - is up.

Rafa was right when he said Newcastle improved in the second half and should have converted the couple of chances they had to win the game.

He would also have been right to say that if you don’t beat a shambles of a team such as Aston Villa when you REALLY need to, then you don’t deserve to stay up.